Chapter 7: Plans
Edward knew better than to slow me down now. I was running full speed down the eerie tunnel that was surrounded by darkness. I had told Edward that we needed to find the Volturi at once; we needed to save Alice. I didn't even care if that meant the Volturi would make me work for them. I couldn't stand to think of how guilty I would feel if she never got to return because of me.
I also knew that Edward had some objections to this unplanned attempt to free Alice. He didn't want us to get separated because of the Volturi. He also thought that we should plan the whole thing out before we made such hasty decisions. But I didn't care about any of that right now. All I could think to do was save Alice. Nothing else was important.
It was about two hours until Edward and I came to the other side of the tunnel. Jasper was waiting for us, waiting to move the painting aside so our mission could begin. I heard a funny noise escape Jasper's lips. A growl? I couldn't meet his gaze; he must have been furious with me.
I looked up at Edward, expecting some comfort. But he wasn't looking at me. I could have sworn I saw him scowling at Jasper. I elbowed him, trying to knock some sense into him. I was surprised that the force behind the nudge I had given him had made him stagger back a few steps.
When I was a human, I could punch him as hard as I could and it wouldn't affect him in the least. It just ended up hurting me. But now I was stronger and I had to be careful. I wouldn't want to actually hurt Edward. Even with this new knowledge, it was difficult for me to imagine ever being able to physically hurt Edward.
Jasper was definitely not himself. His face looked drained of life and his eyes were empty. I gave him a meaningful look, as if to say that I was going to get Alice back, but I didn't think he caught it. It was like he was looking at me, but not really seeing anything.
I decided that maybe I should try verbally. "Jasper, I'm going to bring her back. Don't worry, the Volturi can have me!" I felt Edward tense next to me but I ignored him. Jasper just vaguely nodded, turned around, and disappeared. I tried to chase after him, to comfort him, but Edward held me back.
"Not now, Bella," Edward whispered, slowly releasing his hold on me. "Nothing you say can comfort him right now. Let's go find her." He grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly.
"I guess," was my reply. I towed him into the room and located Carlisle. He looked eager to get his daughter back.
"Hello Bella, Edward," he began. "What are you two going to do?"
"Actually Carlisle, I was hoping you would have a plan for us," Edward told him, ignoring me bouncing up and down in anxiety. "We know we can trust you."
Carlisle looked thoughtful for only a moment before he replied. "We need to split up to make this work." He looked up at me and then moved his gaze to Edward. "Edward and I will go to the Volturi. I'm an old friend of theirs, and Edward can try to convince them that he will join them."
"Carlisle, I…" I started, but he raised his hand to silence me.
"The rest of you can stay here and wait for further words."
"Just wait a minute!" Jasper yelled, startling me and making me jump back into Edward's chest. I hadn't heard him make an appearance. "I'm not going to sit back and wait to see if you're plan is successful or not!" I was glad to see that the distance in his eyes were gone, but I wasn't sure if I was too eager to welcome this furious rage.
"I understand how you would be anxious, Jasper, but we need to think clearly. If you left to save Alice, we don't know what you would do in order to get her back. You could put the rest of us in jeopardy, or kill yourself. I wouldn't want to take that risk." Carlisle still seemed very calm; he was good at putting a poker face on.
"I understand. But what if Esme was the one kidnapped? Would you want someone else to do the rescuing," Jasper exclaimed impatiently.
"If it worked out best, yes. I would want Esme, as well as everyone else in this family, to be safe."
"Sorry, I asked the wrong person. Edward, if Bella were the one," Jasper began, and settled down a little more when he caught Edward's expression. "Wouldn't you want to be the one to bring her back to safety?"
"Of course." He frantically looked down into my eyes and then up at Carlisle's. "He has a point."
Carlisle said nothing, letting a long thoughtful sigh escape his lips. "Very well," he said finally. "What do you propose we do then, Jasper?"
"I say I go to Volterra all by myself and let them have me, so Alice can be free."
"Jasper," Edward sighed, "the Volturi aren't stupid. They took Alice so they could force us to give up Bella."
"Then we can give Bella to them! I don't mind bringing her along."
"NO!" Edward snarled.
"Edward, this might be a good idea. I don't see any other way we could do this."
He now looked hurt, as he whispered, "No."
"How about you go with her too then?" Jasper asked, clearly annoyed with all this delay. "You both can join the Volturi together if that floats your boat. But we need to get Alice."
I was too stressed and worried to allow Jasper's words to sting, so I decided to eagerly look up at Carlisle. He looked like he was analyzing something in his head.
"I don't know if that would be necessary," he said slowly. "I think that there is a chance that they would compromise with me." His eyes looked troubled, and I could tell he was avoiding Edward's gaze. "So Bella, Edward, Jasper, and I will go to Volterra and talk some sense into them. Emmett, Rosalie, and Esme can stay here in case anything happens." His tone let everyone know that it was decided. The plan was official.
And Edward was not pleased at all about any of it. I tried to give him a reassuring glance, but it didn't seem to ease the tension. I was really excited and eager to get started.
"When do we start?" Jasper asked impatiently. He was sitting down now, allowing his fingers to lightly drum on the table.
"We leave when the sun starts to set. If we start from Phoenix, rather than here, we can get there much faster. But right now the sun will be to bright for comfort, and I don't want the Volturi to have to step in before we're prepared." Esme was now at Carlisle's side and she was clinging to him as if she would never see her again. I've never seen such a desperate look in her eyes, and it made me worry a little. I felt a tremor roll down my spine and Edward tightened his grip on me.
Don't be ridiculous, I told myself. You'll be with Edward. That's all that matters.
"Let's head over to the shack in Phoenix now, then," I insisted, already pushing the large painting aside.
"Patience," Edward warned me, but he never let go of me as I walked into the dark corridor and ran at full speed to the other side. I knew we wouldn't be able to leave yet, but I was too anxious for my own good.
I heard Edward mumble something unintelligible, but I tried to ignore it, not letting it damper on my mood. I didn't know exactly what it was that had me so bubbly, but it most likely had to be about the fact that Edward was coming with me, and the thrill of going on an adventure.
I hugged Edward tighter as I thought about what we were about to do.